BUNDESTAG HAS ALL BASES TO CONDEMN THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE OVER THIS YEAR: SHARMAZANOV

21:28, 3 March, 2016

YEREVAN, MARCH 3, ARMENPRESS. The discussions of the draft condemning
the Armenian Genocide in Germany's Bundestag indicated that all the
factions accept that massacres of Armenians in Ottoman Turkey, in 1915
is genocide and it must be condemned, Vice President of the Armenian
National Assembly (NA) Eduard Sharmazanov said after the executive
body session of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA). "There were
no speeches to put the Armenian Genocide under suspicion. After
the discussion I met with the author of the draft Cem Ozdemir and
Vice-President of the German Bundestag Edelgard Bulmahn after a day.

They both stated that they are ready to do everything possible for
the Bundestag to condemn the Armenian Genocide," Sharmazanov said,
"Armenpress" reports.

Sharmazanov added that most of Germany's ruling coalition
representatives expressed the need for recognition and condemnation
of the Armenian Genocide. "I believe that there are all the bases for
Germany's Bundestag to condemn the Armenian Genocide during 2016,"
Sharmazanov concluded.

Yerevan/Mediamax/. Former German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer that Bundestag will adopt a resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide .

“Relations between Europe and Turkey have long been characterized by a deep contradiction. History, too, has divided the two sides, as the dispute over recognition of the Armenian genocide during World War I attests”, says Fisher, in his article “Realism for Europe and Turkey”, written for Project Syndicate.

“Relations could deteriorate further this spring, when Germany’s Bundestag votes on a resolution calling for the mass murder of Armenians in 1915 to be categorized as genocide. The motion will most likely be adopted by a large cross-party majority, aggravating tensions with Erdoğan’s government”, noted the German politician.

It is declared that the motion for recognizing the Armenian Genocide
will be voted on June in Bundestag.

According to DW Turkish's report, Christian Democratic Union of
Germany (CDU) First Secretary Michael Grosse-Brömer stated that the
motion about the Armenian Genocide will be voted most probably on June
2.

Common motion

Green Party co-chair Cem Özdemir spoke to AFP: “We would like this
motion to be brought to Bundestag sooner. However, there is something
more important than the date, which is the fact that all political
parties will speak the same.”

Özdemir also said, “Finally, there will be clear and explicit
statement in Bundestag. Yes, the name of the crime committed against
Armenians in Ottoman era is genocide. Moreover, Germany is also
responsible for it.

Özdemir: no turning back

Christian Democratic Union declared the date of the voting and Cem
Özdemir also commented on this: “Christian Democratic Union keeps its
promise. There is no turning back now.”

Green Party brought the motion to the parliament on February, but the
voting was postponed, since coalition parties Christian Democratic
Union of Germany (CDU) and Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD)
demanded a common motion.

Bundestag discussed a motion on April for the first time, but there
was no voting. While the government avoided using the term “genocide”,
President Joachim Gauck and President of Bundestag Norbert Lammert
openly expressed the genocide.

Recently, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, during the meeting with
Chancellor Angela Merkel, asked her whether the motion will be brought
to the parliament and Merkel said that it will.

Bundestag CDU/CSU faction head: What happened with Armenians 100 yearsago should be considered Genocide in Germany

13:20, 16 April, 2016

YEREVAN, APRIL 16, ARMENPRESS. The atrocities and persecutionsagainst Armenians in the Ottoman Empire 100 years ago should beconsidered as Genocide in Germany. This was stated by head ofBundestag CDU/CSU faction Volker Kauder during an interview withPassauer Neue.

“The draft resolution on the Armenian Genocide will be discussed inthe German Bundestag on June 2. What happened 100 years ago should beconsidered Genocide,”Armenpress” reports Kauder saying.

The Passauer Neue noted that after June 2, the German-Turkishrelations may rapidly deteriorate. As a prerequisite to this, thePassauer Neue notes German President Joachim Gauck’s position, whocalled the events of 1915 Genocide. Bundestag President NorbertLammert also clearly used the Genocide phrase while speaking on theissue.

The discussions in the Bundestag on the adoption of the ArmenianGenocide resolution on February 25, 2016 did not lead to voting.Alliance '90/The Greens party, which initiated the adoption of theresolution, recalled the draft for further processing because ofcontradicting positions.

Last April 24, on the 100th anniversary of what Armenians call the
Great Crime, the Bundestag postponed voting on a similar resolution to
classify the mass killings as genocide. Yet the accompanying debate
clearly showed that parliamentarians from all factions in parliament
viewed the massacre as such.

(Deutsche Welle) - As Armenia commemorates 101 years since the Great
Crime, Germany is still not sure whether "genocide" is officially the
right word. A scheduled early-June debate in the Bundestag could
complicate relations with Turkey.

April 24 commemorates the 101st anniversary of the events that many
historians and a couple of dozen nations commonly refer to as the
Armenian Genocide. And, if a plan agreed to by the ruling Christian
Democrats (CDU) and their Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social
Union, comes to fruition, Germany could also do so soon. Or at the
very least discuss doing so - once again.

The decision by the governing coalition, which includes the Social
Democrats, was forced when the opposition Greens introduced a
resolution in February to recognize the massacre, deportation and
starvation of up to 1.5 million Armenians during the dying days of the
Ottoman Empire as "genocide."

The Greens ultimately pulled the measure after the governing coalition
agreed to work on a joint resolution. That was good timing for
Chancellor Angela Merkel and her EU counterparts ahead of March's
critical summit to seal a controversial deal on refugees and
deportations with Turkey.

The Bundestag will likely take up the debate on June 2 - just before
the summer parliamentary recess - according to an agreement reached in
April between the Greens and the government.

The Great Crime

As the successor state to the Ottoman Empire, Turkey officially denies
that the events that started in 1915 amounted to genocide and has
lashed out at countries that have officially recognized the term.When
France formally called the displacements and killings genocide in
2011, Turkey temporarily recalled its ambassador; it did the same
thing to Austria last year. Were Germany to formally adopt the term,
Turkey could pull its ambassador from Berlin and throw the EU
migration deal into doubt.

Last April 24, on the 100th anniversary of what Armenians call the
Great Crime, the Bundestag postponed voting on a similar resolution to
classify the mass killings as genocide. Yet the accompanying debate
clearly showed that parliamentarians from all factions in parliament
viewed the massacre as such.

German President Joachim Gauck and CDU Bundestag President Norbert
Lammert both used the term to describe the cleansing of ethnic
Armenians from eastern Anatolia. The draft resolution also recognized
Germany's role in the killings as an Ottoman ally in World War I and
called for a rapprochement between Turkey and Armenia.

Avoiding Turkey's wrath

For strategic reasons, the governing coalition opted not to vote on
the resolution last April, and again in October, in order to avoid a
confrontation with Turkey at a time when large numbers of displaced
people were transiting the country en route to Germany and the
European Union.

The fact that Germany and the EU have now signed a pact with Turkey on
refugees - a deal that officials in Ankara have repeatedly threatened
to withdraw from - puts additional pressure on Merkel's government.

Given Germany's need for Turkey's cooperation with refugees and
deportations, it is unclear how or if a vote in June would proceed.
Backing out could set up Merkel forfurther criticism that she is
kowtowing to Turkey.

Turkey officially refers to what happened as the "Events of 1915" and
denies that the massacres and deportations amounted to genocide. The
official line is that ethnic Armenians represented a fifth column
backed by Russia during World War I, and that the mass deportation and
accompanying Armenian deaths were not premeditated or intentional - a
key requirement in the legal definition of genocide.

Officials in Turkey put the number of Armenians who died at around
500,000, while Armenia puts the number at about 1.5 million out of a
prewar population of some 2 million. Turkish officials also point out
that hundreds of thousands of Muslims died from combat, starvation,
cold and disease in eastern Anatolia during the war. Armenians have
documented systematic mass murder, organized banditry, raping of
women, pillaging of property and other atrocities.

Nearly 30 countries have formally recognized the massacres as
genocide. Keen to avoid irking a key ally, the United States has
avoided using the term, although more than 40 US state legislatures
have passed genocide resolutions.

Deutsche Welle: If Merkel backs out the Armenian Genocide resolution,
may face further criticism over kowtowing to Turkey

POLITICS 20:34 24/04/2016 WORLD

As Armenia commemorates 101 years since the Great Crime, Germany is
still not sure whether "genocide" is officially the right word. A
scheduled early-June debate in the Bundestag could complicate
relations with Turkey, Deutsche Welle writes.

As the source reports, April 24 commemorates the 101st anniversary of
the events that commonly refer to as the Armenian Genocide. And, if a
plan agreed to by the ruling Christian Democrats (CDU) and their
Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union, comes to fruition;
Germany could also do so soon. Or at the very least discuss doing so -
once again.

The decision by the governing coalition, which includes the Social
Democrats, was forced when the opposition Greens introduced a
resolution in February to recognize the massacre, deportation and
starvation of up to 1.5 million Armenians during the dying days of the
Ottoman Empire as "genocide."

The Greens ultimately pulled the measure after the governing coalition
agreed to work on a joint resolution. That was good timing for
Chancellor Angela Merkel and her EU counterparts ahead of March's
critical summit to seal a controversial deal on refugees and
deportations with Turkey.
The Bundestag will likely take up the debate on June 2 - just before
the summer parliamentary recess - according to an agreement reached in
April between the Greens and the government, the source informs.

It reminds, that last April 24, on the 100th anniversary of the
Bundestag postponed voting on a similar resolution to classify the
mass killings as genocide. Yet the accompanying debate clearly showed
that parliamentarians from all factions in parliament viewed the
massacre as such.

German President Joachim Gauck and CDU Bundestag President Norbert
Lammert both used the term to describe the cleansing of ethnic
Armenians from eastern Anatolia. The draft resolution also recognized
Germany's role in the killings as an Ottoman allies in World War I and
called for a rapprochement between Turkey and Armenia.

According to the source, the governing coalition opted not to vote on
the resolution last April For strategic reasons, “to avoid a
confrontation with Turkey at a time when large numbers of displaced
people were transiting the country en route to Germany and the
European Union.”

The fact that Germany and the EU have now signed a pact with Turkey on
refugees - a deal that officials in Ankara have repeatedly threatened
to withdraw from - puts additional pressure on Merkel's government,
reads the article, adding given Germany's need for Turkey's
cooperation with refugees and deportations, it is unclear how or if a
vote in June would proceed, while backing out could set up Merkel for
further criticism that she is kowtowing to Turkey.

Thomas Oppermann: Bundestag to accept resolution on Armenian Genocide in June

POLITICS 15:48 02/05/2016

“The Bundestag will adopt a resolution on June 2, concerning characterization of the mass murder and expulsion of Armenians during World War I as genocide the,” Social Democratic Party member, Thomas Oppermann told the Tagesspiegel, reports Deutsche Welle.

Oppermann noted that violent reactions from Turkey should not be an obstacle.

The initiative for a resolution on the Armenian Genocide has already been suggested to be on the agenda by the Greens a year ago on the 100th anniversary of the genocide. After a parliamentary debate, it was decided to adopt the resolution in April 2015. Yet considering the negotiations on the refugee crisis with Turkey, the leading coalition representatives called the timing inappropriate. Still, German President Joachim Gauck has already referred to the massacre of Armenians, calling it a “genocide” and pointing out Germany’s participation.

However, Turkey has warned the German Bundestag not to adopt a resolution naming the expulsion and massacres of Armenians by Turkey a “genocide”.

"It is not the place of national parliaments to judge history. “Genocide” is a legal concept defined by the Geneva Convention. In this case, it shouldn’t be excluded that politicians can act on political or religious motives,” Turkish Ambassador to Germany, Huseyin Avni Karslioglu told Rheinische Post on May 2.
He also said that with accepting of the resolution, Bundestag would hinder further improvement of Armenian-Turkish relations.

Bundestag resolution will affirm the term “genocide,” German lawmaker says

12:35, 06 May 2016
Siranush Ghazanchyan

The Bundestag will affirm the term” genocide,” in a resolution to be
discussed in June this year, Member of Bundestag, President of
Germany-Armenia Forum Albert Weiler said in Yerevan.

He voiced hope that the document on the recognition and condemnation
of the Armenian Genocide would be comprehensively considered in the
German Bundestag.

Albert Weiler has been granted a title of Honorable Doctor of the
National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia for
the contribution to the strengthening of the Armenian-German
friendship.

He has been blacklisted by Azerbaijan for visiting Nagorno Karabakh.

The German Bundestag is set to vote on an Armenian Genocide bill on
June 2, according to an agreement reached in April between the Greens
and the government.

The ruling coalition, the Left and the Alliance90/Green Parties have
reached an agreement to call the 1915 events “genocide.”

The German Bundestag will approve the Resolution on recognition of the
Armenian Genocide on June 2, Member of Bundestag, Head of the
Germany-Armenia Forum Albert Weiler declared in Yerevan today.

“I assure that the Armenian Genocide recognition bill will be put on a
vote at the plenary session of the Bundestag. I think the resolution
will pass with a vast majority of the votes, he said.

According to Weiler, the parliamentary forces are still holding
discussions on the content of the bill, but one thing is clear – the
term ‘genocide’ will be included in the title, and the events of 1915
will finally have the right formulation.

Referring to Turkish Ambassador’s warning to Germany, Weiler noted
that “not only the Turkish, but also the Azerbaijani side is trying to
interfere with the issue.” Despite that he hopes that the bill will
pass almost unanimously.

The German lawmaker said “part of the resolution will refer to the
restructuring of the Armenian-German relations.” “Germany should take
up the responsibility of contributing to the normalization of the
Armenian-Turkish relations,” he said.

“Recognition of the Armenian Genocide will be a message to Armenia and
Turkey to normalize the bilateral relations irrespective of the forces
in power in Turkey. I hope the day we’ll be able to cross the Turkish
border with my Armenian friends is not far away,” the Member of
Bundestag said.

Turkey is in every way trying to influence the German authorities so
that the Bundestag doesn’t use the G-word in the Resolution on
Armenian Genocide, Permanent Representative of Nagorno-Karabakh to
Germany, Harutyun Grigoryan, told Armenian News – NEWS.am.

“The German government has recognized the Genocide, and this will be
followed by corresponding consequences. There might be inter-political
processes in Germany, which will suppose adoption of relevant points
in the decisions, based on the fact that the German parliament has
recognized the actions of the Ottoman Empire as a Genocide,” he
stated.

Grigoryan also noted that the German ruling parties, Christian
Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) and Christian Social Union in
Bavaria (CSU), constantly state that the Ottoman Empire committed a
genocide.

“That is, Germany crossed a certain line, and there will be no return,
while the expected resolution will be adopted; all the Bundestag
factions will vote for it. I don’t know how much this text will be
changed, but I suppose that there will be certain changes, and we
expect to see the word “genocide,” he added.

“Turkey understands this, knowing what it faces and is trying to fall
back on the last possible means. You know how dependant German
authorities are from Turkey. The latter plays a key role in the
current policy of German migrants. The Turkish community influences
the German policy. But I hope that the German authorities will do what
they have decided to do,” Grigoryan stressed.

During his visit to Yerevan in April, MP and member of Bundestag
Committee on Foreign Affairs, Christoph Bergner, noted that in early
June Bundestag will discuss a draft resolution where the 1915 events
will be named genocide.

Twice-postponed Armenian Genocide draft will be brought to Bundestag’s
agenda on June 2. Green Party member and Vice President of the
Bundestag Claudia Roth spoke to Agos. Reminding that Ambassador of
Turkey to Germany Hüseyin Avni Karslıoğlu warned Bundestag about the
draft, Roth said, “We don’t accept it. I hope the groups in the
parliament won’t obey Turkey once again and the draft will be accepted
as planned.”

With “Erdowie, Erdowo, Erdogan” video clip and Erdoğan’s lawsuit
against comedian Böhmermann, freedom of expression and oppression on
press in Turkey came to the fore in German public agenda. Though EU
countries, especially Chancellor Merkel, seemingly evaded the
responsibility by signing the Readmission Agreement with Turkey, the
German public opinion is divided over this issue. While the ruling
coalition followers and right-wing support the agreement, liberals and
and left-wing criticize it because it is done at the cost of the lives
of the refugees and EU connives at the violation of rights in Turkey.
In the midst of these discussions, Berlin-based national newspaper Die
Tageszeitung issued a special supplement focusing on freedom of press
in Turkey on May 3 World Press Freedom Day. In order to prepare this
issue, which includes articles from Turkish journalists and published
in Turkish-German for the first time in German press history, 2
editors from Turkey, including me, was invited. This 16-paged
supplement was published with “Uncensored” title and on the day it was
published, a panel discussion on freedom of press in Turkey was held.
Die Welt Turkey representative Deniz Yücel and the Vice President of
the Bundestag Claudia Roth gave speeches at the session.

It is no coincidence that Green Party member and Vice President of the
Bundestag Claudia Roth attended this session. Working for Turkey’s EU
membership since 1989, Roth was one of the Bundestag members who
brought the grave human rights violations in Turkey during ’90s to the
parliamentary agenda. In 2013, during Gezi Park protests, she was
subjected to police brutality. During the recent years, she became the
leading critics of Turkey’s governmental policies.

We spoke to Claudia Roth about Armenian Genocide draft, Germany’s
responsibility in the genocide and the meaning of the Readmission
Agreement in terms of German-Turkish relations.

It is announced that the draft concerning the Armenian Genocide will
be brought to the parliamentary agenda on June 2. Do you think that it
will be accepted this time?

It’s about time. The draft hasn’t been brought to the agenda sooner
because of Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) and Christian
Democratic Union of Germany (CDU); it is not our fault. We wanted it
to be accepted last year, on the centennial of the genocide. On the
anniversary of the genocide, President Joachim Gauck and the President
of Bundestag Norbert Lammert used the word “genocide”. We said that we
will prepare a draft that all parliamentary groups would accept.
However, the other groups didn’t do this, they tried to postpone it.
And now, CDU leader promised that a common draft will be brought to
the agenda on June 2. On the other hand, we saw on the newspapers that
Turkey Ambassador to Germany warned our parliament about this draft.
He said, “Calling it genocide is not under the authority of a foreign
parliament.” I hope the groups in the parliament won’t obey Turkey
once again and the draft will be accepted as planned.

What do you think about this warning?

This attitude is incomprehensible for me. An ambassador warns
Bundestag openly. We don’t accept it. No embassy and no government can
threaten us. What we discuss or how we resolve an issue is at our
disposal. I hope CDU and SPD will keep their promise, vote for the
draft and define what happened in 1915. And this definition can be
nothing but genocide. We are already late; we should have accepted it
last year. However, SPD thought that it might constitute an obstacle
to the Readmission Agreement. It is impossible to postpone it further.

What will Bundestag’s recognition of the genocide mean?

Recognition will pave the way for discussing our responsibility,
because Germany is also responsible for what happened. German Monarchy
was an ally of Turkey; they didn’t do anything for preventing the
genocide, though they knew everything about it. We have to confront
our past.

Germany’s role in the genocide has came to be discussed more and more
both in Turkey and Germany. Is this also a topic of public
discussions?

Especially on the centennial, this issue was intensely discussed.
However, it started long before the centennial. I remember that Hrant
Dink came to Germany and attended some panel discussions about 10
years ago. I personally discussed this issue with him. We were talking
about whether it is necessary to insist on defining the events as
genocide. He said that opening the issue up for discussion is more
important. However, 10 years passed and Hrant Dink was murdered.
Today, I think that calling it genocide is also our responsibility to
Hrant Dink. So, we will discuss this issue and say that what happened
is genocide. And there is another reason that makes it so important:
the Armenian Genocide is accepted as the first genocide in 20th
century, but Germany is responsible for another genocide, which was
committed 11 years before the Armenian Genocide. The country that is
known as Namibia today was a colony called German South-West Africa.
And in1904-1907, Germany carried out a genocide against indigenous
Herero and Nama people. We think that the recognition of the Armenian
Genocide will enable the discussion of Herero genocide and Germany
will also accept its responsibility for it too. As a result of our
efforts, German Ministry of Foreign Affairs recognized the Herero
Genocide. However, this is not enough, because nothing has been done
for reconciliation yet.

Especially in the recent period, human rights violations in Turkey is
begun to be discussed in Germany. On the other hand, there are
criticisms against EU countries on the ground that they connive at
what is happening in Turkey because of the refugee agreement. As a
politician, do you think that German Parliament should criticize
itself?

Yes, a self-criticism is necessary. When Erdoğan came to power at
first, left-wing and liberals in Turkey was supporting him. There was
a peace process and we thought that a new period is about to start in
Turkey. However, on this point, the self-criticism should be about the
EU membership process of Turkey. We, as EU and Germany, haven’t made
enough effort for Turkey’s full membership. Such an effort would have
led to democratic reforms. We didn’t insist on this process and find
the membership convincing and this was a huge mistake in terms of the
relations with Turkey. Offering “privileged partnership” instead of
full membership doesn’t mean anything. At the end of this process,
Turkey became more alienated from the idea of EU membership.
Preventing Turkey’s full membership but signing an agreement with it
for protecting the “Europe castle” is nothing but hypocrisy. What was
our contribution to the escalation of autocracy in Turkey? Did we sell
out the democrats, journalists and opponents in Turkey by signing this
agreement? Did we sell out democracy? Did we connive at what happened?
We should discuss these issues.

Turkey on Monday called on German lawmakers to “act reasonably” when
considering a bill next month on recognizing the deaths of Armenians
in 1915 as “genocide”.

Tanju Bilgic, a Foreign Ministry spokesman, said Ankara had been
following the preparation of the resolution and its “politicizing” of
history, Anadolu Agency reports.

“It is possible that if the resolution is approved Turks living in
Germany and Turkey will react seriously,” he said at a weekly news
conference in Ankara. “In this framework, we expect the German
parliament to act in common sense and reasonably.”

German lawmaker Albert Weiler announced in Armenia Friday the
Bundestag would consider a resolution on recognizing the events of
1915 as “genocide” on June 2.

Last year, parliamentary parties approved the resolution in principle
but sent it to committee for further work.

“These [politicians] are further complicating the issue,” Bilgic said.
“Genocide is not an issue that can be abused with political aims.”

He reiterated Turkey’s call to establish a joint commission to
investigate the killings.

YEREVAN, MAY 11, ARMENPRESS. German intellectuals, including also
director with Turkish origin Fatih Akin, published an open letter
directed to the German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Bundestag where
they urge Merkel to recognize the Armenian Genocide with the June 2
resolution, “Armenpress” reports, German “Die Zeit” periodical
informs.

In the letter German intellectuals urged “to show clear stance on June
2 and to call the crime against Armenian people with its name which is
genocide”. “Imagine, you live in Germany, where the Holocaust is
denied: won’t it be viewed as a continuation of a crime?”, they write.

“We urge You to stand for the fundamental European values and put
clarity in Your words. The denial of the Armenian Genocide currently
serves the basis for new violence. Armenians were called terrorists in
1915, their property was taken away, and now more than 5.000 Kurdish
people were killed in Turkey in 2015 who were blamed to be terrorists.
All this happened since Turkey regularly refuses to face its history,
and its past, as well as today’s actions do not receive any response
from the international community”, German intellectuals said stating
that Bundestag and its preceding structures kept silence on the
Armenian Genocide for more than 100 years.

Germany’s parliament is pressing ahead with a motion condemning the
Armenian massacres by the Ottoman Turks during the first world war as
a “genocide” in a move which will probably infuriate Recep Tayyip
Erdogan, Turkish president, and threaten the fragile EU-Turkey deal on
refugees.

The vote, scheduled for June 2, comes amid a diplomatic scandal over a
German comedian’s obscene anti-Erdogan poem and growing concerns in
the EU about a central element in the refugee deal — the planned
visa-free travel accord for Turks in the Schengen zone.

The motion could further complicate the intensive efforts of Angela
Merkel, German Chancellor, to placate Mr Erdogan and persuade him to
drop threats to scrap the refugee accord out of anger at what he sees
as EU-based disrespect for Turkey.

Ms Merkel could meet the Turkish leader again as soon as next weekend,
when she is visiting Istanbul for a UN conference on emergency aid.

The Bundestag has been discussing a possible genocide motion on the
Armenian massacres since well before last year’s 100th anniversary of
the killings in which up to 1.5m Armenians died. But even after a
passionate parliamentary debate in April 2015, Ms Merkel’s government
resisted efforts led by the opposition Green party to hold a formal
vote.

Even before the refugee crisis, Ms Merkel was concerned about the
potential damage to German-Turkish relations and to the feelings of
nearly 4m people of Turkish origin living in Germany.

However, the government decided last year it could no longer hold the
line in the face of some politicians in the ruling conservative-social
democrat coalition breaking ranks and a wave of explicit genocide
declarations coming from elsewhere, including the Pope.

In remembrance and commemoration of the genocide of the Armenians and
other Christian minorities in the Ottoman Empire 101 years ago

Text of Bundestag agenda item

After negotiations with the Green party, party managers of the CDU/CSU
and SPD have agreed to back a genocide motion. This means it is almost
certain to be passed.

While the text has yet to be published, the agenda item already makes
the intentions clear: “In remembrance and commemoration of the
genocide of the Armenians and other Christian minorities in the
Ottoman Empire 101 years ago.”

The long delay in the vote means it comes at an even more awkward time
than a year ago. However, Cem Özdemir, the Turkish-origin co-leader of
the Greens, told Bild am Sonntag newspaper: “It can well be that there
will be anger in Ankara. But the Bundestag is not letting itself be
blackmailed by a despot like Mr Erdogan.”

In depth

Europe’s migration crisis

The EU is struggling to respond to a surge of desperate migrants that
has resulted in thousands of deaths

Many MPs are already furious that Ms Merkel permitted prosecutors last
month to pursue a criminal case against Jan Böhmermann, a television
comedian who read out a poem accusing Mr Erdogan of having sex with
animals, and “kicking Kurds and beating up Christians while watching
child porn”.

German political leaders have also expressed reservations about the
visa-free travel plan, insisting Turkey must first fulfil tough
conditions, including reforming its anti-terror laws. Mr Erdogan has
threatened to reopen Turkey’s borders for refugees heading for Greece
if he does not get an early travel deal.

Horst Seehofer, CSU leader and Ms Merkel’s most important domestic
political critic, warned this weekend in the Welt newspaper that it
was “dangerous” for Germany to be so despondent on Turkey.
Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the foreign minister from the SPD, also told
Tagesspiegel newspaper that it was up to Turkey to meet the conditions
for visa-free travel. “Turkey knows what needs to be done,” he said.

Draft resolution on Armenian Genocide with “genocide” term included in

Bundestag agenda

15:08, 16 May, 2016

YEREVAN, MAY 16, ARMENPRESS. Despite the pressures by the Turkish
side, with the joint initiative of the “Christian Democratic Union/
Christian Social Union” and the Social Democratic Party
parliamentarian factions, the resolution on the Armenian Genocide with
a clear “genocide” term has been included in the Bundestag agenda,
“Armenpress” reports citing the Bundestag official website. The
discussion of the draft resolution on the “Genocides and memory of
Armenians and other Christian minorities in the Ottoman Empire 101
years ago” is scheduled on June 2. The coalition, as well as
opposition factions stand for the draft resolution.

“It is quite possible that there are problems with Ankara, but the
Bundestag cannot be subjected to blackmail by Erdogan dictator. In
case of the corresponding decision by the Bundestag, it will be more
difficult for Turkey to deny the Armenian Genocide”, Chairman of the
Alliance 90/The Greens Cem Ozdemir said thing during an interview to
Bild.

In his turn, Chairman of the Social Democratic Party Thomas Oppermann
stated that Germany as an ally of the Ottoman Empire also bears
responsibility for what happened with Armenians. “This does not depend
on the current political processes, including also the crisis
situation over refugees. We should not admit any false decision”, he
stated.

Head of Bundestag CDU/CSU faction Volker Kauder said the adoption of
the resolution can contribute to the settlement of the Armenia-Turkey
relations. “We with such a step want to help building a bridge between
Armenia and Turkey”, Kauder said.

The discussions in the Bundestag on the adoption of the Armenian
Genocide resolution on February 25, 2016 did not lead to voting.
Alliance '90/The Greens party, which initiated the adoption of the
resolution, recalled the draft for further processing because of
contradicting positions. In 2005, Germany's parliament adopted a
resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide. However, in the
Bundestag’s decision, the term Armenian Genocide was avoided, and
instead "massacres of Armenians" was used. "On April 24, before the
Bundestag hearings, Germany's Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier
announced that he supports those MPs, who are in favor of calling the
mass killings of Armenians “Genocide”. On April 23, during the
ceremony in the Berlin Cathedral dedicated to the memory of the
Armenian Genocide, German President Joachim Gauck used the term
“Genocide” in his speech. In March of 2015, the President of the
German Parliament Norbert Lammert said: "what happened in the Ottoman
Empire during the First World War in front of the whole world, was
genocide. And it was not the last genocide of the 20th century. During
the session the leaders of various party fractions also came with
their pro-Armenian statements admitting what had happened.

YEREVAN, MAY 16, ARMENPRESS. MPs representing the Left Party of the
German Bundestag (Die Linke) visited Yerevan State University (YSU) on
May 16. Member of the delegation Martin Dolzer stated in a meeting
with the Armenian students that the recognition of the Armenian
Genocide is not enough for them to consider their mission over. It is
also very important how the atrocities committed by the Ottoman Empire
will be formulated, press service of the YSU informed “Armenpress”.

“It must be clearly mentioned in the resolution that what happened was
a genocide. Moreover, accusing and condemning only the Turkish
Government is not enough. Germany must also admit its guilt as it
silently followed and even sometimes participated in those atrocities.
And there was only one aim for that, to preserve Turkey as an ally
during the war years”, Bundestag MP Martin Dolzer said.

Hasan Burgujuoghlu of Turkish decent highlighted the role of meetings
with students, as the younger generation is able to correct the
mistakes of their ancestors.

“It’s not the right way to accuse only the government, there is a
necessity to start working with the public. Believe, today’s Turkish
youth is quite different from their older generation, they are ready
to face the history, there is just a necessity of true information and
guidance”, Hasan Burgujuoghlu mentioned.

The draft resolution on the Armenian Genocide will be discussed at the
German Bundestag on June 2. Back in 2005 the German parliament adopted
a resolution on the mass slaughters, ethnic cleanings, and deportation
of the Armenians by the Ottoman Empire in 1915, but the word
“genocide” was not mentioned.

German resolution on Armenian genocide expected to sour Turkey relationship

By Thomas Seibert | Der Tagesspiegel | Translated By Samuel Morgan

Turkey has long opposed the international recognition of the Armenian
genocide and the German parliament’s plans to finally grant it could
spell trouble for Berlin’s relations with Ankara. EurActiv’s partner
Der Tagesspiegel reports.

In addition to the other factors testing Berlin-Ankara relations,
namely visa liberalisation and the refugee agreement, the issue of the
Armenian genocide is exacerbating the situation.

Turkish observers predict a strong reaction from Ankara if the
Bundestag votes as expected and decides to formally recognise the
expulsion and murder of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire as genocide.

Turkish former Minister of EU Affairs Beril Dedeoğlu told EurActiv’s
partner Der Tagesspiegel that she expects Chancellor Angela Merkel to
be weakened politically when it comes to dealing with Turkey as a
result.

Turkey has long used diplomatic pressure to hold back the calls for
the Armenian genocide, which took place during the First World War, to
be internationally recognised.

Ankara has instead argued that the death of several hundred thousand
members of the Armenian and other non-Muslim minorities between 1915
and 1917 was a tragedy, but did not constitute genocide. Armenian and
the majority of international researchers call the event genocide and
more than 20 countries formally recognise it as such.

In Germany, the ruling coalition of the CDU, CSU and SPD, as well as
the Greens, support the resolution. Turkey’s ambassador in Berlin,
Hüseyin Karslıoğlu asked in a Rheinische Post interview how Germany
would contribute to reconciling Turks and Armenians once the motion
was passed.

In Turkey itself there is major opposition and an association
committed to opposing recognition of the genocide has warned that
relations between the two countries could be damaged. In an open
letter, it claimed that the Turkish nation is following the
developments “with concern”.

It also added that the adoption of the resolution would be “a historic
mistake” and could put pressure on Berlin and Ankara’s ties at a time
when both countries need to work closely together to tackle the
refugee crisis.

The organisation also called upon Turkish people to send letters of
protest to German political parties and provided their addresses on
its website.

Former minister Dedeoğlu is also expecting cracks to appear in the
countries’ relationship. Not in the form of economic sanctions, but
symbolic protests, she told Der Tagesspiegel in Istanbul.

German Foreign Affairs Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier (SPD) also
told Der Tagesspiegel that, “I hope that the German-Turkish
relationship will not be burdened by the resolution and we can
continue to work well together.”

Germany also hopes to keep looking for reconciliation and
understanding between Turks and Armenians. Steinmeier cited
cross-border projects underway that are intended to bring the two
people closer together.

Five years ago, Turkey recalled its French ambassador after its
national assembly passed a law criminalising the denial of the
genocide. Last year, Ankara recalled its representative to the
Vatican, after Pope Francis called the massacre “the first genocide of
the 20th century”.